Joe Biden set to unveil ‘substantial’ new G7-backed sanctions aimed at Russia’s war in Ukraine

Hundreds of entities in Asia, Europe and Middle East targeted, as well as Moscow’s ‘future energy and extractive technical capabilities’

Biden administration has said no evidence China giving military support, but surge in its energy exports has helped Russian economy

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US President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on Thursday in Hiroshima, Japan, ahead of the Group of 7 summit. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:00am, 19 May 2023Updated: 9:58am, 19 May 2023

US President Joe Biden plans to unveil a “substantial” set of new sanctions targeting hundreds of entities in Asia, Europe and the Middle East as part of a renewed push to cripple Moscow’s ability to continue its war against Ukraine.

Measures to be announced while Biden is attending the Group of 7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, include new US sanctions against 70 companies deemed to be helping Russia circumvent measures enacted by the G7 soon after the war started, a senior White House official told reporters on Thursday.

“All G7 members are preparing to implement new sanctions and export controls,” the official said. “I won’t get into the specifics of what partners are doing, but the United States will be rolling out a substantial package of our own.”

New US measures include “upwards of 300 … sanctions against individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft” that help Russia skirt measures like the blocking of Russian banks from the Swift financial messaging system, he said, adding that the latest moves would also target the country’s “future energy and extractive technical capabilities”.

Biden administration officials have said repeatedly in recent months that they see no evidence that Beijing is providing Russia with weapons or any other lethal military aid supporting the war in Ukraine, although a surge in Russian energy exports to China has helped boost the country’s economy.